Climbing Mount Rinjani; The Best Route According to the Author

As usual, mount Rinjani National Park will open for visitor starting April 2025. You maybe consider to hiking to Mt. Rinjani but have no idea which route is the best to take.

Mount Rinjani National Park has officially 5 gates, which is Sembalun gate (East Lombok), Senaru Gate & Torean Gate (North Lombok), Timbanuh Gate (East Lombok) and Aiq Berik Gate (Central Lombok). The gate of Sembalun, Senaru and Torean are connected, so you can start the hiking from one of those gate and finish at different gate. While Timbanuh and Aiq Berik are not connected with other route, that means you will start and finish at the same gate.

Before decide your hiking package, here is the author's hiking routes recommendation. It will devided by your goal and experiance level.

1. Experianced Hiker with goal is to visit all main destinations at Mount Rinjani National Park.

If you are experianced hiker and willing to visit all the main destination at Rinjani National Park, Author suggest to start hiking from Sembalun Village and Finish at Senaru village. This trek will take minimum 3 days and 2 nights. All main destinations will be visited, such as Crater Rim Sembalun, Summit of Rinjani, Segara Anak Lake, Hot Spring Water, Crater Rim Senaru, Senaru tropical forest.

If you are unexperianced but you are sporty and fit, this route also sutable for you, however take longer duration is recommended. The longest duration that allowed by National park is 4 Days and 3 Nights. In most case, if you are to tired after summit, you can reroute the exit to Torean village.

Here is the recommended itinerary:
Day 1
08:30    Check in at Rinjani National Park Registration Office at sembalun village, Trekking Begin.
12:00    Lunch at Post 2
17:00    Arrive at Crater Rim Sembalun Campsite, Free time
18:30    Dinner, Camp and overnight.

Day 2
02:00    Climb the Rinjani Summit.
05:30    Arrive at Summit (Before sunrise). Take Photos (+- 1 Hour)
07:00    Back to Crater Rim Sembalun Campsite, Breakfast.
10:00    Start descend down to Segara Anak Lake.
12:30    Arrive at the lake, Take shower at Hot Spring Water. Lunch.
14:00    Start Ascend to Crater Rim Senaru Campsite.
18:00    Arrive at Crater Rim Senaru Campsite, Camp, dinner, and overnight

Day 3
07:00    Breakfast.
07:30    Start decent down to senaru village. Lunch at Post I Extra.
13:30    Arrive at senaru village.

2. Experianced hiker with goal is to visit Summit of Rinjani

2 Days and 1 night hiking to Summit of Mt. Rinjani is recommended if your goal is summit but have less time available to do the hike. This route will be start and finish at Sembalun Village and you will visiting Crater Rim Sembalun and Summit of Rinjani.

If you are unexperianced but you are sporty and fit, this route also sutable for you. If you feel to hard for Summit, you can do only half of the summit attack. From the body of Rinjani, you can see nice sunrise and the Crater view too.

Here is the recommeded itinerary:
Day 1
08:30    Check in at Rinjani National Park Registration Office at Sembalun Village, Trekking Begin.
12:00    Lunch at Post 2
17:00    Arrive at Crater Rim Sembalun Campsite, Free time
18:30    Dinner, Camp and overnight.

Day 2
02:00    Climb the Rinjani Summit.
05:30     Arrive at Summit (Before sunrise). Take Photos (+- 1 Hour)
07:00     Back to Crater Rim Sembalun Campsite, Breakfast.
10:00     Start descend back down to Sembalun Village. Lunch serves at Post II or I
15:00     Arrive at Sembalun Village.

3. Unexperianced Hiker with goal to see the view as same as Summit.

Start and finish the hike at Senaru Village is an option for you if you wish to see the view as same as summit. Your destination will be Crater Rim Senaru, from here you can see the view of the crater with lake and New Mount in the middle of the lake as same as summit, only opposite direction. Nice sunset also can be seen from here. Dificulity level of this route is medium, many beginners are succeed this trek. Really suitable for Family with children.

Here is the itinerary recommendation:
Day 1
07:30    Check in at National Park Office Registration office at Senaru Village and trekking begin.
12:00    Lunch at Post 2
16:00    Arrive at RIM I, Sunset, Camp, dinner and overnight

Day 2
07:00    Breakfast
07:30    Start to descend down back to Senaru Village
11:30    Lunch at Post I Extra
14:00    Arrive at Senaru Village.

That is the author's recommendation for those of you who are still confused about determining the best route to climb Mount Rinjani. Don't forget to prepare your physical condition for your comfortable hiking.